Building Bridges for Support
“It takes both sides to build a bridge.” – Fredrik Nael
A lot of what we talk about at Courage to Caregivers involves the self – self-growth, self-knowledge, self-empowerment. But this month, we’re expanding our view as we consider our place within common humanity. And this week’s topic of building bridges is all about understanding, interacting with, and showing support for others.
Building bridges allows us not only to support one another better but also to narrow the gaps that our differences might otherwise create between us. These differences come about naturally because each of us is a unique individual, with our own thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and cultural backgrounds that inform our worldview. Understanding these differences and accepting them plays a major role in how we respond in our relationships and how we support one another.
Building strong bridges requires the right tools, and here are three that are very effective:
SEEK TO UNDERSTAND: Listen with your entire being. Listen to understand.
RECOGNIZE OUR COMMON HUMANITY: Remember that each of us has a story. Don’t judge, and don’t make assumptions.
PRACTICE EMPATHY: Listen with compassion. Be curious. Hold negative emotions. Use engaged body language. Take turns.
Cultivating a practice of bridge building takes time. It also takes the commitment of two people to form a strong bridge. Although you can’t control the responses of others, you can always remember what’s in your control, and that’s YOU. So be gentle with yourself – and with others – as you work to build those bridges.
Some of the most important bridges we can build are with our loved ones. And although those relationships can often be complicated, they are, above all, based on love. The combination of LOVE and EMPATHY allows us to build even stronger bridges and create greater solidarity with our loved ones. Our empathy allows us to better understand how our loved one feels and how to support them in their feelings. Our love for them allows us to show compassion and kindness, to better understand their perspective, to do hard things, and to find HOPE.
We also understand the importance of building bridges among caregivers. While each caregiver is unique, with different experiences, roles, and responsibilities, they also share a need to be supported by a community where they can feel safe and learn from others’ experiences. At Courage to Caregivers, we want to be that kind of bridge builder for YOU.